Sound-box for talking-machines.



A. D. J ONES. SOUND BOX FOR TALKING MACHINES. APPLICATION HLED NOV- 20,19i4.

1 9 l @QUUQ Patented June 20, 1916.

Kid

rd 51W ALVA l3. JONES, 01E PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOUNJWBOX FOR TALKINGMACHINES.'

Application filed November 20, 1914.

1 of Pennsylvania, have'invented a new and useful Sound-Box for Talking-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

in sound boxes for talking machines as generally constructed, the sound reproducing diaphragm is held in position by one or more detachable annuli of rubber or similar material, and the sound box is composed of a plurality of metallic and rubber parts united together by screws or the like, the

various partshaving rubber insulation between them, whereby the cost of production is greatly increased.

lt'is further well known that most sound boxes in use frequently emit a metallic or scratchy sound accompanying the reproduction of sound from the sound reproducing tablet. I have discovered as the result of an extensive series of experiments, that rubber whel Iv cured to the requ1- site degree so as to attain a degree of hardness or resonance simulating the condition of the human throat or palate, possesses many characteristics of the human throat when employed for a sound reproducing agent, and by constructing the entire sound box body of rubber and casting therein a preferably metallic member having preferably integral therewith bearings for the stylus arm and its adjuncts, and bv mount ing the diaphragm in a seat within a front annular bead, which is softer than the sound box body and is secured to said body by an annular resilient hinge, I have. produ'ced a devicerwhereby the sound delivered from .the diaphragm is greatly mellowed and in'iproved. and a clear and distinct articulation is obtained.

In accordance with my present invention, I construct the entire sound box body of a single piece of rubber or similar material, which is iduced by casting or molding, the main b 1y portion of the box being preferably thickened and hardened, and having attached thereto by an annular, resilient, integral hinge, a front annular head which overhangs and encircles the diaphragm seat, said bead being softer or semi-cured with reference to the sound box body, which latter is harder or cured to a harder degree than said front annular bead containing the diaphragm seat, and l also simulta- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 2th lldild,

Serial No. 873,205.

neously. cast within the hardened body portion of said box a metallic plate having a gasket receiving groove and projecting lugs for cooperation with the stylus bar and its ad uncts, whereby a device is cheaply produced having peculiar reasonant qualities, and wherein'any surface sounds or metallie or scratchy noises are eliminated or'absorbed in the sound box body, the resultant device having peculiar reasonant qualities which closely resemble the action of the human throat or palate in reproducing soundsc By my novel invention, coupled with my novel manner of pivotally supporting the stylus arm and its adjuncts, ll make provi sion for the diaphragm to be yieldingly supported, so that it hamcapacity. for vibration adjacent to its perimeter as well as at its center-,myv'novel sound box and its aduncts being inexpensive to construct, eX- tremely sensitive a in action, easily and quickly repaired, and readily accessible for the purpose of inspection or replacement of parts, meansthus being provided for a general improvement of the vocal or instrumentaltones, amelioration of the surface noises as'wellas of the scratchy, metallic or grinding sounds common in' instruments of this class, and rovision being thus made for a faithful (fivelopment and reproduction of the delicate sounds ordinarily difficult to reproduce, which are reproduced by. my novel device with a maximum degree of fidelity and faithfulness to the original.

To the above ends, my invention consists of a novel construction of a sound box com posed of rubber or similar material, wherein the body portion is thickened and cured to the requisite degree of hardness, said body portion having cast therein a plate, said body portion having also integral therewith or secured to the front portion thereof, an annular bead encircling and overhanging the diaphragm, the material of which said bead is composed being softer than said sound box body, whereby the requisite capacity for vibration of the diaphragm at its outer and intermediate portions is provided.

It further consists of a novel construction of sound box having a body of rubber or similar material which is fully cured so as to be in a hardened or resonant condition, and having a metallic plate cast therein'to coact. with the diaphragm, while the outer front portion of the box which encircles isto be understood that the various instr-u-- mentalities of which my invention consists canbe variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as here shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a sound box embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 represents a section on line w-m Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a front elevation of the metallic plate and its lugs in detached position. Fig. 4 represents on an enlarged scale, a front elevation, parllyin section, of the jewel bearing for the stylus bar.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings: 1 designates my novel construction of sound box, the .same comprising the thickened body portion 2, which is contained within the walls 3 and 4, and is composed preferably of hard rubber or similar resilient or resonant material, said body portion-having the peripheral head 5 which at its forward portion is constructed to form the resilient annular wall or head 7, within which isthe inclined wall 8, which converges inwardly to meet the inclined Wall 9. In proximity to said wall 9 is the annular groove 10, which is preferably located in the metallic plate 11, which is provided with lugs 12, having the bearings 13 therein for the oppositely located screws 14 or their equivalents, said plate having'an opening 15 therethrough, which is in alinement with the bore 16 of the sound box, which is surrounded by the annular extension 17, which is softer than the sound box body 2.

18 designates the stylus holder or chuck,

. which is provided with the threaded screw 19, said chuck being open at its bottom portion to receive the stylus point of the usual construction, and having on opposite sides thereof, the pivot seats 20, which are adapted to be engaged bythe pivot points 25 of the threaded screws 14. The inner portion of the extension 17 is provided with a lug 21, which is adapted to frictionally engage a meeting portion of the tube or tone arm to which the sound box is applied.

The function of the annular groove 10 is toreceive an annular gasket 22, whereby the diaphragm 23 is held in proper position between said gasket and the inclined wall 8.

The annular resilient hinge 6, as well as the outer wall or bead 7, are preferably integral with the bead 5 and the body portion 2, and both said bead 7 and said hinge 6 as well as the thickened portion of said bead 5, are all of softer material than the body 2, so that the diaphragm, whose outer periphery is held between said wall 8 and the gasket 22, is capable of the requisite amount of vibration at its outer as well as at its inner portions.

By the employment of the lug 21, I am enabled todispense with the bayonet joint commonly employed to effect the interlocking of the rearward extension 17 with the tube or tone arm, (not shown), since it is only necessary to slip said extension 17 on said tube with the lug 21 in alinement with the slot of the tone arm, it being unnecessary to give any rotary movement to the body 2, whereupon the stylus and tablet of the usual construction will coact at the desired angle in the proper manner.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing that my novel sound box body is preferably composed of a single piece of material, as rubber or the like, formed with the body portion 2, which is cured hard or to such a degree of hardness as to ap n'oximate a condition simulating the human throat or palate, and with the annular hinge G and the front head '7 which are softer or semicured, as is also the neck or extension 17.

By casting or molding the entire sound box of one piece of rubber or similar material. having the proper portions thereof semi-cured or softer than the other or hardened portions, as described, and by casting the metal plate 11 within the sound box body, during the manufacture thereof. as described, I am eiiabled to greatly reduce the cost of production and to dispense with the plurality of rubber and metallic parts, such as screws, nuts, knife edges and the like heretofore employed, and at the same time produce a device of superior quality.

By my method of casting in the sound box body the plate 11, I am enabled to both increase the weight of the box to the desired extent, and, in addition. to also produce a completed sound box body having the lugs thereon for the reception of the stylus bar and its adjuncts, it being apparent that any chatter, surface noises, scratchy or metallic sounds which may be transmitted through the lugs 12 to the sound box body. will be effectually absorbed in the hardened portion 2, and will not be transmitted to the sound conveying tube or horn. as will be evident to those skilled in the art, and a mellow and pleasing reproduction of delicate vocal as well as instrumental sounds, ordinarily difiicult to reproduce, will be effected with a maximum degree of fidelity to the original.

Idiave deemed it unnecessary to describe for effecting the assemblage of these devices.

In practice, the body portion 2, which comprises substantially the mass of material between the walls 3. and 4 in my method of molding or casting my novel sound box, may

' be at first semi-cured, during which action the metallic plate .11 may be placed in position and thereafter, the annular bead or ring 7 which may be first shaped independently ofthe sound box body 2 with or without the diaphragm therein, can be united with the contiguous portion of the bead 5, after which the curing of the mass of rubber may be completed, the body portion 2 of the box being then completely cured, while the front, annular peripheral bead 7 will be semi-cured so that the desired degree of comparative softness and hardness as regards the front bead 7 and the sound box body 2 can be readily attained by those skilled in the art,

the arms 12 being securely embedded in the sound box body at "the points where they extend therethrough, so that any undue or improper vibrations of said arms 'will be taken up in said body portion, as will be evident. It will be apparent that 'the molding or casting of the sound box 7 in its entirety with the metallic plate and integral arms 12 thereon, may be effected in various other ways than that described, and inasmuch as I am the firstin the art to produce a sound box of the character described, having a diaphragm retaining portion of soft material, which is secured to the integral body portion of harder material by a resilient, annular hinge, in conjunction with the metallic plate cast therein, for the purpose stated, I reserve the right to make all such changes as will come within the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

It will be seen from the foregoing that by my novel method, I am enabled to make a sound box by casting from rubber or similar material, wherein the body portion is hard and has cast therein the plate 11, provided with the annular groove 10 and the arms 12 provided with the bearings 13 adapted to coact with a stylus bar, it being also apparent that the front bead 7 containing the diaphragm seat, as well as the extension 17, are somewhat softer than the body portion, which product I can attain by the herein described method of semi-curing the body of the box, casting within said body said plate, and then securing to the semi-cured body the annular bead of softer material having a diaphragm seat therein, it being understood by those skilled in the art that a further or subsequent curing takes places incident to the union offthe semicured body and said annular bead, whereby a concrete unitary the manner of securing the stylus structure is produced having advantages over the prior art.

So far as I am aware, I am the first 1n,

the art to employ the method. hereinabove described, and to produce a sound box of the characterdescribed out of rubber or-similar material, having the resonant metallic plate 11 cast therein, and having portions of said box body of varying degrees of hardness, for the purpose stated, and my claims for my novel method and product are to be construed with the corresponding scope award ed to a pioneer invention.

It will. be apparent that while I have described the material of which my sound box body is-composed as being preferably of rubber, I do not desire to be limited thereto in every instance, but claim broadly my method and product as applied to the use of any plastic material having properties similar to rubber or its equivalent.

I have deemed it unnecessary to describe with great particularity the process or mode of curing of my novel sound box body, as this will be readily understood by those skilled in the art,'hy-reference to my prior Patent #1,118,653, granted November 24th,

1914:, for a sound box for talking machines.

In Fig. 4:, I- have shown a preferred form of mountin the stylus bar in jewel-bearings, wherefiy the life of the pivot points will be indefinitely prolonged, and the recording or reproducing features of the device w1l 1 be greatly enhanced. In carrying out thisfeature of my invention, I bore'the head or upper portion 26 of the stylus chuck transversely, and insert therein a pivot bearing 27, which is staked in said head or otherwise rigidly and immovably secured therein, the outer terminals of said member 27 being pointed and adapted to engage a jewel bearing 28, which is contained in the extremity of the threaded stem or screw 29, Which latter is in threaded engagement with the lug or bearing 13 of the arm 12.

In order to give thethreaded stem a neat and attractive appearance, I preferably reduce the diameter of the same around the jewel bearing, as will beunderstood from. Fig. 4;, and in order to hold said stemr 29 rigidly or immovably in position, I employ the screw 30 seen in the lower left hand portion of said Fig. 4:. v

It will be apparentthat the construction on each side of the head 26 will be identical, so that a description of one side will suffice for both. 1 y

In prior devices with which I am familiar, wherein knife edges or the like are employed, it will be evident tothose skilled in the art, that when such knife edge be comes worn or has worn the seat in which its rests, a certain amount of lost motion must inevitablytake place, which is very harmful to the recording or reproduction of IEt-tt rocal or instrumental sounds. In my device,

terial, such as sapphire, agate or any other similar hard. and imperishable substance.

It will be understood that if desired, in

some instances, the jewel bearing may be dispensed with and the end of the'threaded stem 29 hardened by any suitable means.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction of a sound box for talking machines, which embodies thejfeatures of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description, and whilejl have, in the present instance, shown and described a preferred embodiment thereof.

which will give in practice satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible ofmodification in various particulars, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacriicing any of its advantages.

- Having thus described my invention, what if claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: The method of making a rubber sound box, which consists in semi-curing the body thereof, securing within said body, a plate, securing to said body an annular bead of softer rubber encircling a diaphragm seat, and lastly completing the curing of said body.

2. The method of making a rubber sound box, which consists in semi-curing the body thereof, casting within said body a plate, securing to said semi-cured body an annular head of softer rubber encircling a diaphragm seat, and lastly completing the curing of said body and bead, said bead being sezni-cured and said body fully cured and 3 harder than said head and diaphragm seat.

3. The herein described method of making a sound box fromplastic material, which consists in semi-curing the body thereof, casting within said body a metallic plate, securing to said semi-cured body an annular bead of softer material, having an inner wall to serve as a diaphragm seat, and lastly completing the curing of said body and bead, said head being semi-cured and said body fully cured and harder than-said bead and diaphragm seat;

4-. The herein described method'of making a sound box, which consists in semi-curing the body thereof, casting within said body a metallic plate having an annular groove therein, and provided with projecting arn'is, securing to said semi-cured body annular bead of softer material having an inclined wall therein adapted to form a portion of a diaphragm seat, and lastly completing the curing of said body and bead, whereby a sound box body is produced having a hardened body portion fully cured and a diaphragm seat portion softer than said body and semi-cured.

5. The herein described method of main ing a sound box body of rubber or similar material, which consists in semi-curing the body thereof, casting within said body a mctallic plate, securing to said semi-cured body an annular head of softer material, having an inner inclined wall serving as a portion of a diaphragm seat, securing a rearward extension of softer material to said body portion, and lastly completing the curing of said body, bead and extension, said head and extension being semi-cured and said body fully cured and harder than said head, diaphragm seat and rearwardly extending neck.

6. As an improved article of manufacture, a soundbox body composed of relatively hard rubber, the front annular portion of which is adapted to surround the periphery of a diaphragm and is softer than the adjacent juxtaposed portion of said sound box body, and a plate having an opening therethrough secured in said hardened body portion.

7. As an impi o\ ed article of manufacture, a sound box body composed of resilient resonant material, the front annular portion of which is adapted to surround the periphery of a diaphragm, and is softer than the other portions of said sound bdx body, and a metallic plate cast in'said body, and provided with arms projecting through said body and adapted to receive bearings for a stylus bar.

8. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box body having a. thickened rear wall of. resilient, resonant material, and a. front annular bead secured to said wall by an annular, integral, resilient hinge, said bead being capable of vibration independently of said body portion and encircling a diaphragm seat, and a metallic plate cast in said body portion, and provided with an annular groove located oppositely to said bea d, said plate having arms thereon extending beyond said body portion and adapted to coact with a stylus bar;

9. As an improved article of manufacture. a sound box body having a thickened rear Wall of hardened, resilient, resonant material and a front, annular, peripheral bead secured to said wall by an annular, resilient hinge, said head being capable of vibration independently of said body portion and encircling a diaphragm seat, a metallic. plate .cast within said body portion and having an outer, annular groove oppositely located to said bead, and a rearward extension irom said body portion composed of material softer than said bpdy portion.

10. The combination of a diaphragm, a

sound box body having a rear Wall of har-.

11. As an improved article of manufacture, a sound box body composed of resilient, resonant material, and having a diaphragm seat therein, and a metallic plate secured in saidi body and provided with arms projecting through said body and adapted to receive bearings for a stylus bar.

ALVA D. JONES \Vitnesses E. HAYWARD FAIRBANKS, C. D. MoVAY.

denies at this patent may be obtained for five eeuta each, by Maintains the Commimalonez' of Emerita, WMMMMQEI, D. Q, 

